Page 57

Chapter

M aisie was in disbelief. She’d heard the tale of the MacKinlay cattle, of course. It was the reason Niall and Lina had met. But to think it was her brother, the clan chief, who had attempted to renew the feud in such a manner?

“How did you realize ‘twas him?” Niall asked.

Kieran shook his head. “I cannae say, precisely. His manner, perhaps. He was angry, but in a different way than most. When Father forbade Lina in his hall because she was a MacKinlay, it was a different sort of animosity. And though I know MacKinlay’s quarrel runs deep having lost the battle, there was just an almost madness there that immediately made me realize it was him. ”

“All that time,” Niall mused. “How did we not realize before?”

Kieran’s lips turned up just slightly. It was his perpetual smile Maisie had first noticed. Well, perhaps it was other things, but his smile was certainly one of them.

“You were preoccupied, brother,” Kieran said, looking at her.

His implication was clear. It was Kieran’s turn to be preoccupied. With her. His words continued to ring in her ears. I love you. Marry me, Maisie.

She’d been prepared to share her own feelings when he stopped her, for there was no doubt she loved him too. Even now she could be carrying his babe, though Maisie suspected not. Her husband had tried more often than she would have liked to plant his seed in her, but naught had come of it.

What am I to do? I cannae marry again. Can I?

“You are thoughtful,” Kieran said as his brother turned to their men.

“‘Tis much to consider,” she said. “Lina’s brother. Your aunts. And one you will likely locate to learn the true story of your birth.”

Though Kieran appeared skeptical that she truly was thinking of such things, likely by the way she looked at him, he did not comment on it. Instead, he cleared his throat, as if wishing to tell her something of import.

“Now it is you who appears thoughtful.”

“You were right,” he said.

“As I usually am,” she teased.

“I’m learning as much,” he teased back. “In this particular situation, I refer to what you said this morn. I must speak to my parents.”

To say she was surprised would be an understatement. “You will do so?”

Kieran sighed. “Perhaps I should find this aunt someday and learn of my birth, but as I watched Lina’s brother lash out at her, it occurred to me the damage such extreme hate can wreak. I would not wish to have such a thing chip away at me in that way.”

“You willnae look for her?”

“Someday, aye. But I know two people who can give me the answers I seek with whom I should speak first.”

“I am pleased to hear it.”

“As I thought you would be,” he said as Lina approached.

“My brother awaits in the hall,” she announced. “And wishes to offer a meal before we leave.”

Niall said nothing to his wife. Instead, he approached her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. She whispered something into his ear. Maisie looked away. It seemed too intimate a scene to watch. Instead, she glanced up at Kieran.

“I am glad for her, to have reconciled with her brother.”

“As am I.”

He was thinking of his own reconciliation, Maisie was certain of it.

“Perhaps,” she ventured, “the answers you seek are just under your nose, like the mystery of the cattle.”

“Perhaps. It seems,” he said, “the others are ready. Shall we dine with my kinsmen?”

His teasing tone about such a serious matter told Maisie much about how he felt now compared to when they first met. Clearly more at ease with the situation—likely reconciling with Niall had helped tremendously—it seemed he was ready to learn the full truth, for better or worse.

“Your kinsmen,” she said, following him and the others. “They are not housed here.” She mused aloud and did not expect him to respond.

“Nay,” he said quietly. “They are not.”

Maisie froze. Kieran stopped alongside her.

“‘Tis the first time you’ve acknowledged as much since we met.”

“You are good for me, I believe. In more ways than one.”

This time, his smile was tinged with something more. A suggestiveness that she both recognized and appreciated. “When you look at me that way,” she whispered as they began walking once again, “it feels as if I am the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“Because you are, to me. I thought it the first time I saw you, but now knowing you, believe even more. There is no other woman for me, Maisie. Just you.”

His words did something to her insides. Did she want to marry again? Nay. But did she love this man and want to be with him always? Aye, she did, very much.

“This eve,” she said. “We shall talk.”

“I hope to talk well before then. At the meal. On our return. I would speak to you about everything, Maisie. We’ve so much yet to share.”

He spoke as if they would remain together. And if she were being honest, Maisie could not imagine it any other way.

“Indeed,” she said, anticipating what she thought to share with him this eve. “Indeed, we do.”